The nationwide commemoration of India's National Song ends on 7 November 2026, bringing renewed attention to its role in the freedom struggle and its constitutional status.

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• The year-long commemoration was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 7 November 2025 and runs until 7 November 2026.
• The launch featured mass singing of the full song across public places and the release of a commemorative stamp and coin.
• Vande Mataram was written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee on Akshaya Navami, which fell on 7 November 1875.
• The song later became part of his novel Anandamath, which was serialised in the monthly Bangadarshan and published as a book in 1882.
• Rabindranath Tagore sang it at the 1896 Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress.
• It became a rallying cry of the Swadeshi movement from 1905, and British authorities moved to curb its spread.
• Madam Bhikaji Cama's 1907 flag raised in Stuttgart carried the words Vande Mataram.
• On 24 January 1950, Constituent Assembly President Rajendra Prasad declared Jana Gana Mana the National Anthem and gave Vande Mataram equal honour.
• The Constitution does not name a National Song, though Article 51A(a) obliges citizens to respect national symbols.
• In 2026 the Home Ministry directed that Vande Mataram be played or sung before Jana Gana Mana when both feature at an official event.
• Earlier 2026 instructions made the six-stanza version the standard for official events.
• The Railways Ministry marked the closing week phase from 1 to 7 November 2026 with a programme at Rail Bhawan on 5 November.